Night Riding

[MET]

Thius time of year it is dark until 7:00am and dark at 5:00pm. If you ride at all you are in the dark. We have too many animals around here Deer, Coyote, Bear, Racoons, Turkey ( They will kill you. Last thin I want to see is eyes staring back at me.

 

[Rayabusa0818]

I only saw one deer this morning

 

[WWJD]

The accident and death statisics are not good for riding after dark - compared to riding in the light. That's pretty much my main reason for not riding at night. I'm not nad-less by any means being a skydiver, busa pilot and much hated public christian, but I will usually try to tilt the odds in my favor when it is within my grasp. I'm stunned I'm the only one so far that never rides at night

 

[Warchild]

By definition, Endurance Riders do 1/2 of all their riding at night. I regularly travel through areas where the density of deer population is among the highest in the nation: HWY 395 running 400 miles north-to-south in central Oregon.

Yet the only time I hit a deer on this stretch... was in broad daylight. That was May, 2001. Hit a doe at 60mph. Cut her in two.

But for night riding on the K8, I had good experience using this set of Hella Micro DE HID Driving Lamps.... they've kept me alive so far:

 

[GSXcite]

Most of my riding is at night.

 

[Over_Easy]

Avoid it whenever possible...HIDs or not. For my own safety primarily.

 

[rockadaous]

try tripple digits at night or doing the dragon in the dark. both have a huge pucker factor

 

[Schism]

i don't care for it but then again that may change when i get my x mas gift from mrs. claus (h.i.d.)

 

[TIMMYDUCK]

I have no reservations about riding after dark, and in VT we have plenty of different game species to contend with.

My take on the situation is don't go over about 90 indicated so you don't over ride your headlight.

 

[Busa_Nick]

Riding at night is fun where I am there isn't a ton of cars out, only prob. is deer.

 

[Busaman5000]

I ride after dark when I get off work every night. I don't get off work till midnight.

 

[Wallie]

Ialso do it on the way to work and if I have to go out for something else and can ride the bike I do it. I don't think in what could happen if not I would never ride the bike day or night.

 

[dadofthree]

If I get caught after dark, or go to a function like a bike night. To many critters in this area.

 

[HillbillyTom]

I ride to work mornings in the dark. I don't have a problem riding after dark, just have to go slower in the corners. Seems the more lean angle, the shorter the headlight reaches.

 

[Zoinks!]

I know there are a few threads out there on HIDs and that is one of the mods I plan on doing over the winter months. What are the best ones to get? Not the cheapest as I want the best quality I can get. I've looked at the Xenonking link here on the board, and gotten some ideas. I'm assuming since they are a board sponsor they carry good stuff?? Any thoughts on where to get the best HID kits?

Yes, they do carry good stuff. I have the McCulloch 5000k kit and I love it. There's an incredible amount of usable light compared to the higher temp kits. The lower the number 4300k-5000k is the most light output. The 4300, though, is a good bit more yellow than the 5000k. 5000 is pure white and is what I would recomend.

I also ride at night quite a bit. I love it. A lot less people/idiots out there. I just don't go on the back roads. I've met deer before while on the bike. Rather large pucker factor. Never hit one while riding, thankfully. However, I had one run into the right rear quarter panel while drivin home from my friend's house one night.

 

[MelodicMetalGod]

I used to love riding in the dark, but these days we have too much of an issue with the deer population. Earlier this week I saw five different fresh kills on my route to work (only 7 miles!). The durn things come outta the woods at the side of the road without any warning and they've hit my car in the SIDE as I passed by them twice!!!! The Hayabusa is bad azz, but any one of those suckers would've ended my ride in less than pleasant manner.

 

[jefferycarman]

I ride in the dark every morning on the way to work... It's not too bad. Just have to be even more attentive.

 

[Liltroy]

I feel more safe riding at night than I do in the day. Cars can see the headlight coming alot easier than they can see it during the day. Matter of fact, I get some idiot pulling out in front of me just about every time I ride but never once has anyone pulled out in front of me at night...not once. I've got a 100watt low beam that I bought at the stealership and a silverstar high beam so its like daylight for about 60ft ahead and from ditch to ditch in front of my bike at night so I'm good as far as being able to see the road as well.

 

[BIKE DUDE]

I don't avoid night riding and some times it's all I can get depending upon the weather and how busy I am. I'll bet some HID's would make it more enjoyable though,

 

[CTA_Busa_LE]

Yes, they do carry good stuff. I have the McCulloch 5000k kit and I love it. There's an incredible amount of usable light compared to the higher temp kits. The lower the number 4300k-5000k is the most light output. The 4300, though, is a good bit more yellow than the 5000k. 5000 is pure white and is what I would recomend.

I also ride at night quite a bit. I love it. A lot less people/idiots out there. I just don't go on the back roads. I've met deer before while on the bike. Rather large pucker factor. Never hit one while riding, thankfully. However, I had one run into the right rear quarter panel while drivin home from my friend's house one night.

Thanks for the post, I was looking at going with the 5000 kit. Sounds like I'm on the right track, just have to get it and get it in.